NoVA Arnis in the Park

Today's arnis, 11 Sep 2016: As planned, we did tomahawks today. First we discussed the parts of the tomahawk and how they're used and the idea that a good, strong chop is very likely to be lodged in the target so it's best to pick finisher targets when using the beak for a power strike. After that we set up today's session as being against untrained attacks from lots of different angles and weapons like axe handles, bats, clubs, etc - we're doing most of today's work as "dos manos" style. We covered both sides of downward angling strikes, horizontal strikes, and upward angling strikes. Many of our responses used the tomahawk's hook for instant weapons management/acquisition, but we also used the side of the tomahawk's head, the head itself, the beard, and the handle, many of those setting up followup finishers. We still have lots more to cover so we'll do that another day.

Today's arnis, 18 Sep 2016: We first warmed up with some carrenza [upward backhand, backhand harada, high horizontal duplete, forehand horizontal sungkiti to eye/temple, pilantik (double flat abanikos to head), backhand harada, then #2 all the way through]. After that we went back to some basic RvR tapi-tapi material, starting with how the feed works, the receiver needing to block-check-counter and aim at the head, and the importance for the feeder to get their cane to spin to do the tapi-tapi block. Keeping it simple, we fed #6 and #7 pokes to set up those details lots of times, then did the same with #1 and #2 strikes. Then did the same with a #1, #2, and #5 series, and finally progressed the sequence to where we added the #12 strike to trigger the other person taking over the feeding role two different ways. First way: receiver cane-deflects the #12 strike, checks, and feeds their own #1, #2, and #5 strikes, followed by their own #12 to change roles again. The second way was close the distance so that the live hand can pass the #12 on by to the receiver's right while they take over the feeding to do a #7 poke that forces the former feeder to block-check-counter and now the former receiver is leading, so they tapi-tapi block, then feed the 1-2-5-12 sequence again. We added other inserts as well, including after a forehand feed and tapi-tapi block the feeder does a punyo-punch to the face which the receiver passes through and does a #12 punyo which the driver hand-passes through and feeds a #7, then it continues from there in the case of the #7 earlier (or the receiver can pass the punyo-punch and do a backhand punyo, initiating the rolling punyo sequence). Another insertion was to change after the #7-feed-to-tapi-tapi block: instead of feeding a #1, the feeder can feed a backhand punyo to the face with a slight pass of the receiver's cane to make room - if the receiver blocks, then tie them up with the typical back-of-the-hand/wrist trap. And more still.

Last sunday's arnis, 25 Sep 2016: We started by reviewing last week's RvR tapi-tapi, and nailing down some more of the details - this used up most of our time. From there we went into the 5 sections of super sinawali and called it a day.

Today's arnis, 2 Oct 2016: Started by reviewing last week's work on super sinawali (26 total counts before repeating). From there we went into sinawali 8 (16 counts total, 8 per side), then abaniko sinawali (22 counts total, 11 per side), then my "spiral" sinawali (12 counts total, 6 per side). We also discussed variations and options from the move that looks like a classic "arnis pose" - can go into reverse sinawali, as in sinawali 8 and abaniko sinawali, or can make it like a pera-peral-type move, like pera-peral or my spiral sinawali. Another option is to follow through instead of witik back to create an extra striking opportunity on the other side as in the 14-count version of my spiral sinawali. Nice misty/sprinkly day, but we had fun just working the coordination today.

Today's arnis, 9 Oct 2016: We reviewed the sinalawalis from last week: super sinawali, sinawali-8, abaniko sinawali, and my "spiral" sinawali. One group went on to look at spiral-6, spiral-7, spiral-8, and spiral-9 counts, while Julia and I worked on single sinawali and some variations (poke insertions, mirror, single-stick vs double-stick, empty-hands, empty-hand with punches, empty-hand with locks, empty-hand with traps). After that, Guro Paulson suggested we work on the RvR give-and-take version of tapi-tapi that's sort of between a sumbrada and tapi-tapi. We spent some time on that, working details, stepping, hip power, and also two quicker variations that emphasize "aliveness" when grabs are let go or even before grabs are let go. Fun and timely review!

Today's arnis, 16 Oct 2016: I was out at the Renaissance Martial Arts Festival in Rochester, NY, for the weekend and covered some arnis, including some warmups, free-flow back-and-forth pseudo-sparring (attack the incoming attack (hand or arm) and then finish them off, then the other side does the same to that "finish off" strike. We did that both single- and double-stick style. After that, we did some simple single-stick twirling or shadow-boxing, working up to a 16-count combination of my spiral abaniko double-action sequence, blending into a GM Rodel sequence we got while we were in the Philippines. The rest of the group here in Virginia met up and reviewed a bunch of material, including: super sinawali, RvR give-and-take pseudo tapi-tapi, spiral twirling, spiral sinawali (6-count), empty hand hubad drill, 6-count drill (3-8-12 drill/sumbrada), 1-7-5 knife drill.

Today's arnis, 23 Oct 2016: See below. Lots of de cadena work, working flow and entries and changeups and setups and inside and outside. Next time we work de cadena we will include the outside pass.

De Cadena review today
De Cadena basics:
- 3-count drill; block, check,backfist
- done in pairs
- one of the pairs is "inside" - does the block against the inside of partner's forearm
- one of the pairs is "outside" - does the block against the outside of partner's forearm
- can switch from inside to outside and vice-versa
- to go from inside to outside, just do the block against the outside instead of the inside
De Cadena vs. hubud
- hubud is 4-count (block, check, control, strike)
- hubud stays on the same side
- partner throws a right punch
- block with left, check with right, control with left and punch with right
- your partner does the same to you.
Diving throw review:
- partner throws a right punch
- step to outside, check with left, control with right
- step deep in between his feet with your left foot, pull his right arm back, and drive your left arm across his face to bend him back
- drop your stance to bend his leg while continuing to press down on his face with your left arm to bend him backward and drop him
Entries off De Cadena
- all of these are off the following scenario:
- he throws a right punch
- you step to the outside and do a left-hand block, right hand control of his right wrist
- from outside, to diving throw
- block, check, then insert into a diving throw instead of a backfist.
- from outside to cross-chest elbow break ("body shock elbow lock")
- block, check, insert similar to diving throw, but with left arm _under_ his arm and across his chest
- aim to get his elbow over your sternum when you insert
- come in using a lower stance; your shoulder should be below his shoulder
- use left arm to keep him from coming forward
- expand your back and bring your shoulders back to hyperextend his elbow
- from outside to forearm-on-elbow armbar
- step to outside, block and check
- put your left forearm to his right elbow and armbar him forward
- use your forearm, not your elbow -- gives you more room for error, and doesn't reduce your power (if the opponent bends elbow to protect, then swing your right elbow across/into their jaw and convert to outside wrist throw)
- from outside to upward arm break
- step outside, block and check/grab
- turn his wrist palm-up and use an upward forearm smash against his elbow to break it
- if this technique misses and he bends his arm to avoid the pressure, control his right elbow with your right hand while using your left hand and forearm to apply a kote-gaeshi-type wrist lock, bending him backward. Can do a variety of things from that point; take him down, or move into a variety of standing wrist or shoulder locks.

Today's arnis, 30 Oct 2016: Just a small group today, so we decided to work on a review of the standard basic LvR tapi-tapi insertions, including what we call "Start" (enter,catch-n-backfist,exit), "Given" (enter,exit), "Poke Ribs" (enter,catch-n-backfist,pokeribs-pophits-suyap-n-backfist,exit), and "Bonk Head" (enter,catch-n-backfist,bonk-head-n-invertpunch,exit). These are the most basic non-trapping exchanges, but there're also "Abaniko", "De Cadena", and more, including hand-changes. Next time we work LvR we'll either explore more of these, or work some flow-breaking options (both original and not), or work the RvL driving, rather than going right into the trapping groups. Always more to work on!

Today's arnis, 13 Nov 2016: We worked on sinawali boxing drill, concentrating on the randomness and the parry-and-entry responses, including: hook/uppercut, elbow to ribs followed by hammerfist to kidney, groin strike with followups, clothesline, armbar, and more. We followed that with elbow-sinking/retracting covers from the attacker's side with followup punch. After that, we stepped back and worked de cadena / trapping hands, with an emphasis on the move-through pressure from both sides, both sides trying to dominate and force the other back. (last week, we reviewed the LvR tapi-tapi we did from before, and added sequences with the rolling punyos (or punyo de cadena) with passes and disarms, emphasizing real entries and not just rolling through the motions, then we played with various palis-palis applications, both low and high, forehand and backhand)

Today's arnis, 20 Nov 2016: Cold, very windy day, only a handful of folks, so we warmed up with trapping hands, then jumped in to the 1-2-5-12 drill (beginning tapi-tapi basics), stressing that the feeder must control the receiver simultaneous with the pakgang block and followup. We also stressed how to take the lead at the #12 strike and how to make sure it's uncomfortable when the new feeder takes over from the old. We then worked in random strikes, including adding #6s and #7s, before giving up the lead with the #12, and also working in the #12 earlier to see if the receiver catches the hint to take over. The #12 can also be followed up with another #12 to give the lead right back if you want to stay in the receive mode or you want them to practice lead more. After all of that, we worked on two simple ways to take the lead when it's not given by a #12: substitute your block-chk-strike (BCS) with a pushy block-grab-strike (BGS), or a super-fast block-chk-poke (BCP) that forces them to do their own BCS if they don't want to get hit. Either way you've now got the lead. From there, we moved on to work on the 6-count drill (basic sumbrada 3-8-12), pointing out similarities with what we did earlier. We did it with all the permutations of different hands (RR, RL, LR, and LL) using the right-handed normal targets, but also with LL using left-handed normal targets. There are 8 variations for A and B. We also did a short review of the sungkiti sumbrada (box drill, 10-count, or 3-8-5-12-12). Lastly, Tom and I worked the mechanics of opportunistic trapping in RvR tapi-tapi and how it doesn't come from a "bait" but simply from a real attack that happened to be blocked or grabbed. Basically, following that up with something to the back of that hand (or thumb) makes it a trap (momentary or otherwise) and following that up with something to the inside of the wrist makes it an obstruction removal or release (that can also still tie them up in other ways if you move right). All this so you can simply hit them anyway *grin* - which is what I basically call most of what we do: "I Hit You Anyway (IHYA)." Good review and also kept us warm despite the (at times) driving winds. ;-)

Today's arnis, 27 Nov 2016: Some fun to warm up in the cold with various mixed sinawalis, starting with double sinawali on one side and heaven 6 on the other, then adding LHL on one side and reverse on the other, then swapping out the double sinawali with my spiral 6, then inserting sinawali 4, then just mixing all different kinds, including combination single sinawali, which bridges nicely between single and double sinawalis and affords an easy means to teach insertion of extra strikes and opportunities.

After that, we reviewed the first half of the TUSK Tomahawk Module again, covering tomahawk anatomy, braced and dos manos blocking, the nine strikes, tomahawk responses for strikes 1 through 5 and some variations.

Today's arnis, 4 Dec 2016: Just a few of us out there today and folks wanted to go over the tomahawk material some more, so we did. From the 9 striking pattern, we covered tomahawk defenses for strikes 1 through 8 for those reviewing (so we actually added 7 and 8), and for those it was new last time, we worked on strikes 1 through 4. We also worked some details regarding timing, hip motion, and footwork.

Today's arnis, 11 Dec 2016: We finished up the WMAA Tomahawk module with tomahawk defenses agains strikes 8 and 9 of the 9-strike sequence. Setting that up, we reviewed 1-7, including some details that needed work, footwork, and standard module variations. We went over the 3 striking energies and the corresponding blocks, the anatomy of the tomahawk/hand-axe, and the A, B, C, and D categories of techniques. Lastly, I made sure everything was solid enough that we can make it better and talked about the connections with the standard modern arnis disarms and their variations. I covered how the conversion worked from the stick to the 'hawk, using the hook instead of forearm sometimes, using the head and beard instead of the other hand, twisting the hook as you disarm to better grab their weapon, etc. I also talked about the types of axe-specific moves (I used viking analogies because, well, it's fun), like the 'hawk-head-butt/cheek-slap/chop sequence and the shove-and-chop sequence. Good cold day and thanks for letting me go over all that with you all!

This weekend's arnis: Instead of training in the park, I attended the WMAA christmas training and party. We started with testing on the TUSK Tactical Tomahawk module, with three of us passing to Level 3, Instructor. We also covered some panuntukan work, dumog training strategies, an overview of the EDT (Edged-weapon Defensive Tactics) module, and looked at Balintawak's grouping 4 from an Astig perspective (we don't do groupings, but this was fun and looks to fit right into sneaking into sigidas and corridas, and vice versa, it is ripe for Astig and Buot inserts of all kinds). We even did some play with hittable light-sabers just for fun. And of course, good times catching up with everyone for the holidays. Great seeing PG Craig Mason and his wife Heather, Thomas Sam Wolf, George Harris Lmt, Judy Perl, etc, and of course our hosts Janice Stranc and GM Datu Tim Hartman - thanks to all for a great time!

Next Sunday, no arnis in the park, but definitely will be on 1 Jan for those who can make it. I'm thinking a thorough review of Astig Balintawak basics and how they relate to groupings-style balintawaks and to tapi-tapi. Maybe a bit of a longer day if everyone's up for it and the weather is not too miserable. ;-)

Today's arnis, 1 Jan 2017: Happy New Year! Our first arnis session of the new year, even though there were only a few of us. We warmed up with some random carrenza and then added power by doing an 8-strike power sequence from Balintawak with full follow-through except the pilantik (abanikos to both temples), as follows:
downwards forehand diagonal
backhand harada
downwards backhand diagonal
upwards forehand diagonal
LR pilantik (abanikos to left temple then right temple)
around the head to horizontal forehand
horizontal backhand

We then woke up some reflexes with either abecedario or sigidas feeds, depending on how folks were feeling, with partners trading feeder/follower roles. From there, we jumped right into the way we do Balintawak's grouping #4 in three sections, taking it one section at a time. For shorthand, we start both left foot forward with #7 w/ BCS (block-check-strike with pakgang/tapi-tapi block), then step and spiral abaniko then #3 w/ BCS, then step-back pull and cane-hand punch w/ hubud BCS, then step and spiral abaniko then #3 w/ BCS, then tukas and #3 w/ BCS, then step-back pull and cane-hand punch w/ hubud BCS, then #3 w/ BCS, then #2 w/ BCS, then #7 w/ BCS, and repeat. Or, even shorter, we call it:
(start with #7 w/ BCS)
abaniko & pull-punch
abaniko, tukas, & pull-punch
3-2-7
repeat
We went over what makes a tukas and how it's done classically and how Remy used to do it. After that we did the same for the four classical Astig Balintawak sabligs (low, high, modified, and backhand) and two of Remy's variations (outside and punyo). For variations of this grouping we looked at how the tukas could happen anytime the defender returns a backhand strike, and the sabligs can happen off of any of our pakgang/tapi-tapi blocks, either as a finisher or to continue on. We also discussed sneaking in the low-high-outside punyo sequence of Grouping #2 into the mix.

Conal even helped a lot - he did a great job at being the passenger for sigidas even though he hadn't done that before, and he was my demo-aid for walking folks through Grouping #4.

Next week: a lot of non-sinawali double-stick working old connections and drills: crossada, combination, flow, doble baston kasilagang, etc.

Today's arnis, 9 Jan 2017: Nice cold day in the teens, a little windy and in the teens - some roads not good so we only had a couple besides me. Still, we covered some doble-baston carrenza and jumped right into some basic doble-baston crossada work, eventually working up to a free-form give-and-take against random L or R forehand and backhand strikes (which they crossada-block) after crossada-blocking their random L or R forehand or backhand attacks, and on and on. After that, hands were not up for holding much more sticks with contact, so we went into some basic sinawali boxing drills, starting with the intial setup emphasizing controlling the opponent on the initial contact with the first block, and then working through followup uppercuts, armbars, clotheslines, and groin strikes with followup kidney shots. Fun to get outside and at least do some things!

Today's arnis, 15 Jan 2017: Nice day out, and 6 folks showed in addition to me. We continued with what we did during the session two weeks ago, we revisited how we do Balintawak's grouping #4 in 3 sections, adding one section at a time for the people that missed it. We do it thusly, in very shorthanded description:
(start L-side forward with #7 w/ BCS)
step abaniko before #3, step pull-punch
step abaniko, before #3, tukas & #3, step pull-punch
3-2-7
repeat after () above
We also actually inserted the 3 punyo sequence (bkhand low, bkhand high, forehand low) from grouping #2 at the start of the 3rd section (right before the 3-2-7) and played a bit with opposite stepping (stepping back when we initially did it stepping forward, and vice versa - either way is fine since the same foot ends up forwards). After that we went through how to insert tukas and 4 classical sabligs and 2 Remy sablig variations (outside and punyo sabligs, I call them), including the follow-through control and setup to the followup strike (or obstruction pre-removal if necessary). Nice day, and it was really worthwhile to gel the material for everyone. I'll be out the next two weekends, so I hope they work on this stuff and pass it to the few remaining folks who missed this round.

Today's arnis, 5 Feb 2017: Great to see everyone again today after being out for a couple weeks. We quickly made sure that the work on balintawak's grouping #4 we did awhile back wasn't completely gone, then we warmed up with some forms, modern arnis baston anyos 1 through 4, empty hand anyos x1 and x2, and modern arnis empty hand anyos 1 and 2. We'll get back on these to make sure they get sharper. From there we started with redonda vs held sticks and migrated to various single sinawali options (standard, combination, single stick, poke inserts, 2 vs 1 (off- and on-angle)), then double sinawali, then sinawali 4 (also called single-double sinawali), then pera-peral, then reverse sinawali, then a combination of one half of each of sinawali 4, reverse sinawali, and pera-peral, then cycling through such that a complete circuit covers each of the 3 sinawalis blended together alternatingly. Fun, basic stuff! I will be out of town next weekend, but I've encouraged folks to keep the balintawak work going, work on forms, review disarms, refresh the RvR pseudo-sumbrada/tapi-tapi cross drill from Prof. Presas so I can show them a way to blend with the balintawak grouping we've been playing with.

Last week's arnis, 28-29 Feb 2017: I was at the Action Martial Arts Mega Weekend and taught some twirling/carrenza, some basic knife disarms, and power generation for doing a back smash (like the 2-count part of the "empty-hand tapi-tapi" drill).

Today's arnis, 19 Feb 2017: We started with the combo carrenza/twirling that's now in three parts: my sequence that includes spiral, abaniko double action, pabilog, sungkiti, #2, and harada, then GM Dagooc's backhand carrenza sequence with the doblete and pilantik, then GM Elizar's 8-count power strike sequence.

Then we reviewed some ideas to train the live hand better and emphasized that we all need to have that down better when we're doing things with the cane held in our left hands (too much dead hand!) - these ideas included LvL block-check-counter feeds, LvL striking styles with checks between strokes on multi-stroke striking, LvL sumbradas, striking trees and checking in between each stroke, etc.

From there we worked a sequence I'm starting to like when working with folks at all levels: given that we are most likely to come across a relatively untrained opponent, they're likely to come in and close the distance with a forehand power strike with a natural followup of a backhand strike, so we fade/maneuver the first since then we'll know where the 2nd is and time it correctly to jam and set up all sorts of counters, including aborts if they try to block or avoid, or traps if we're too slow, etc, etc. This also works empty-hand versus cane to highlight the importance of distance and timing and visual sensitivity.

We worked through the escalation from counter-attack, to counter-attack that can trigger the start of a block-attempt which is then abort-countered, to counter-attack that triggered an almost-finished block/grab that is also countered, to counter-attack that triggered a grab we were to slow to stop so we counter by trapping/locking or clearing/controlling. We also worked through how almost all traps come about by applying force to the back of the hand/wrist (whether triggered by a serious cane/punyo/tusok/hand attack), and similarly, how clears/controls apply force to the inside of the wrist.

Moving on, we covered the first 8 standard old LvR tapi-tapi sequences, stressing intent of attacks and pressure to force the option we're looking for:

Given (entering with palm up punyo to face to close distance, they catch and #12 punyo, which you intercept then fade back out to single sinawali- the concentration is working your delivery mechanism for entry)
Start (entering to close, inside backhand, intercept block-and-#12-punyo counter, then fade back out - the basic sequence, also known as #1 I think)
Bonk Head (like Start, but before fading out you hit to head with body of cane and when that gets stopped and countered, you catch and underhand punyo to jaw, then intercept and fade)
Poke Ribs (like Start, but before fading you forehand poke to R ribs, they block-check-strike, you hit multiple leg/hips times as they recover from their followthrough on block, then you catch (suyap), backfist, they catch and #12 punyo, you intercept and fade)
De Cadena (like Start, but you intercept their #12 punyo by catching your cane to their forearm then punyo punch them, which they guide past, then you trade rolling straight-line punyo strikes, then on one of theirs you position yourself to catch their cane on your cane-up and then enter with palm up punyo to face to close distance, and finish like Start) [Note -- we also went through several disarms here and 2 hand-change opportunities]
Effortless Grab (like Start, but you live-hand guide their #12 punyo past L shoulder while simultaneously forehand punyo to their ear, they catch, you pull back and put their cane over the back of their grabbing wrist and lock in place with your punyo to trap, you L punch to face, then bring the hand under to clear and fade to single sinawali to keep the flow going)
Abaniko (like Start, but you live-hand guide their #12 punyo past L shoulder while simultaneously forehand punyo to their ear, they catch, and you abaniko #2 to their L temple or jaw, they catch, and you go into De Cadena above, fading out after getting in position to receive a #12 punyo or in the middle of De Cadena as part of a clear. This is also known as #2 I think)
Double-Trap (like Effortless Grab, starting with Start, you live-hand guide their #12 punyo past L shoulder while bringing you L cane back and doing a backhand punyo to their face inside their cane that you just guided past, they catch, you pop over their cane to their L elbow-crook, then move in to pressure them and trap their cane with your L elbow so you can free up your R hand to palm heel them in the face, they catch, you drop your weight down to trap them and grab their cane while freeing up your own cane, then you forehand punyo their head, they catch, then you pop their cane to the back of their wrist and hook with your punyo like in Effortless Grab, then you finish up like Effortless Grab with L punch to face and clear and fade to single sinawali).

Finally, we then worked the knife-vs-knife tapi-tapi where the icepick grip is the driver and the hammer grip is the passenger, both without and with the passenger punch insertion. P=passenger, D=driver. P#5, D-drop-slice-block-and-hook/trap and continue with downblock motion all the way to inside hook and outside wrist lock, D#6, P-catch, d-pop over locked hand to back of P wrist and hook over with knife, D-pop/push P's R elbow into D's knife to filet P's forearm and slice P's bicep, then D continues with #7 stab behind ear, P slice blocks D's forearm and starts over with P#5. The punch insert can come if P sees an opportunity to punch right after P's #5 is blocked and sliced but before it's hooked and locked, then D just does the same motion, but now traps both hands and keeps going as if nothing happened. Fun stuff!

For me, I was at the IMAF Annual South Texas Winter Modern Arnis Camp in Houston, TX. It was a great camp, with lots of great training and reps of the bases upon which a lot was developed throughout the camp. Pugay!

Today's arnis, 12 Mar 2017: It was a cold day with a few die-hards in the park. We started off reviewing Cane Anyos Isa and Dalawa, then did empty-hand Anyo Isa, then we did the Kuntaw Anyo pieces X-1 and X-2. From there, we jumped into some LvR tapi-tapi stuff I wanted to review from way too long back since doing: several options from a L#6 poke to tapi-tapi block and abaniko corto to stick-up/stick-down (SUSD). The first was feed a forehand empty-hand strike and slice through and then L#2 strike, then back to the flow. The second was draw the SUSD past center then feed backhand empty-hand strike to head - if they intercept/protect then bring it back to lock against the back of their hand. The third was do a hand-change in the middle of snaking like going to SUSD, but instead snake to do the disarm while simultaneously feeding R wide punyo and going to a "Colonel Klink" lock if they intercept the punyo. The fourth was instead of going to the SUSD from the tapi-tapi block, you do a backhand punyo and if they intercept you pop their cane to the crook of their elbow and press in to do the LvR version of the hanging lock and do finishing strike(s), then clear under and go back the flow. Each of these have analogs to the more common RvR material so I tried to make those links for those that were familiar. Still lots more neglected LvR material to sneak in.